Photo caption: Mountaineer Gas has paid to replace customer appliances damaged by the water infiltration after a water main break last month on Charleston’s West Side. The gas company is demanding that West Virginia American Water pay the “significant” costs related to restoring gas service as well as costs associated with the civil actions filed in relation to the outage and damages. (Lori Kersey | West Virginia Watch)
BY: LORI KERSEY – DECEMBER 5, 2023 6:21 PM
Mountaineer Gas has filed a lawsuit against West Virginia American Water over the water main break last month that officials say caused a gas outage that affected more than 1,100 customers on Charleston’s West Side.
In its complaint, the gas company asserts that the water company is responsible for the outage.
“We firmly believe the interruption of gas service to our customers is a direct result of the failure of the West Virginia American Water Company facilities, and we feel West Virginia American Water should be responsible for the significant costs incurred by Mountaineer,” Moses Skaff, the company’s spokesperson and senior vice president, said in the statement.
The gas company says the water company is responsible for damages to the gas line and the resulting interruption of gas service, as well as damage to Mountaineer Gas and customer facilities.
Mountaineer Gas crews purged the lines of water to restore service to customers, and has paid to replace customer appliances damaged by the water infiltration. The gas company is demanding that the water company pay the “significant” costs related to restoring gas service as well as costs associated with the civil actions filed in relation to the outage and damages.
In addition to Mountaineer Gas’ lawsuit, Charleston law firms Calwell Luce diTrapano and Forbes Law Offices last month filed a class action lawsuit against both companies on behalf of affected West Side residents.
“The company has worked around the clock to minimize the interruption in service and endeavored to keep lines of communication with local officials and customers open, and the company will continue to do so,” Skaff said. “However, due to the pending legal proceedings Mountaineer will focus communications on ongoing developments rather than the matters at issue in the court actions.”
A West Virginia American Water spokeswoman reiterated Tuesday that any speculation as to the cause of the water main break is premature until an investigation is done, and said the water company will cooperate with the investigation by the Public Service Commission.
The company also announced a claims process by which West Side residents can recoup up to $2,000 for “annoyance and inconvenience from loss of use of gas appliances and out-of-pocket expenses from that loss of use.”
“West Virginia American Water has not seen the complaint and cannot comment further on its contents,” said Megan Hannah, West Virginia American Water’s senior manager for government and external affairs.
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